Pentax newbie. Looking for lens suggestions (particularly reg Samyang 14mm)

<p>Hello all,<br /><br />I am new to the Pentax world. In fact, I just ordered my <a href="http://www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/pentax-k-3-review/introduction.html?src=al" target="_blank">K-3</a> body a few days ago waiting for its arrival. Now it’s time to shop for lens(es). I mainly plan to use my camera for travel photography - shooting landscapes (90% of the time) and some portraits. As an all-purpose lens, I am planning to buy <a href="http://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/Sigma-Zoom-Lenses-for-Pentax.html?src=al" target="_blank">Sigma</a> 17-50 f/2.8 as it has really good reviews and the price is within my budget. I am also interested in buying Samyang 14mm f/2.8 and my question is mainly regarding this lens. Many reviewers and users mention that it is an excellent lens for landscape and wide-angle astro-photography. Although I have never used a manual focusing or manual lens before (or a prime lens for that matter), I am looking forward to learn manual focusing techniques.<br /><br />How easy (or hard) is it to focus for landscapes and night skies with this lens? Is it as simple as setting it to infinity focus and just keep shooting? Or do I have to use live view and focus peeking every time I take a picture? Also, please feel free to suggest any other similar focal range lenses if you think they are better or more useful.<br /><br />Thanks.</p>

<p>It's silly to buy the Samyang 14mm lens for a APS-C sensor camera, since it's a full-frame lens. Makes it bulky, heavy, and flare-prone. Also has terrible geometric distortion. But, no, it won't be a problem to focus.<br>

The Pentax-DA Limited 15mm is a much better choice for that focal length range. Look at used prices.<br>

But ultra-wide angle lenses aren't really for landscapes. All they do is put too much in the picture, and make everything too small. Ultra-wide angle is for <em>interesting</em> things in the foreground. The 17-50 will be fine for landscapes.</p>

<p>Uday,<br>

Typically for landscapes you want to stop your lens down to get as much in focus as possible. Also typically you will use your lowest ISO on the camera to get the finest image. That said, in addition to John's note which is accurate (although I do occasionally even use a 12mm for landscapes, but yes, you need something close) I really recommend use of a tripod. IMHO a tripod is perhaps the one thig you can add to really improve your landscapes.<br>

And yes, focus is easy with wide angle lens.</p>

<p>I don't know the Samyang lens. - I have an old Sigma 14mm f3.5 manual focus full format lens.<br>

It is quite bulky starts to flare almost as son as I remove its cap and no great performer.<br>

As much as I usually prefer primes over zooms I believe the Pentax 12-24mm (calculated for the DSLRs)is a better performer. (although pretty bulky too)<br>

Focusing a manual 14 or 15mm is really easy. at f4.5 DOF is from 2m to infinity, when you set the lens to hyperfocal. At f8 0.5m to infinity or 1m to infinity with lens set to infinity.<br>

I don't mind guessing my distance setting with these lenses at all.<br>

To repeat myself: I would stick away from any 14 / 14mm made for full frame. - I do own the voigtländer 15mm (which everybody ravished about back in film days) too. But to be honest: I don't understand what the hype was about. My copy doesn't seem to perform (much) better than a horrible kit zoom. - OK I usually shot it wide open but still it is no good lens maybe just "better than even worse ones" and luckily the Voigtländer doesn't weigh much. - No it does not fit on Pentax; I just mentioned that somewhat praised lens to put my rant about the Sigma into context.<br>

Not sure what to say about 14mm on Penrtax. - For me that focal length is a must have, indoors architecture journalism shout for it sometimes. - If you think you'll like such a lens, try to get a good one. If you really can't afford a good one sit at least down and make a tight fitting rectangular hood for the bad one planned for full frame.<br>

Disclaimers: I know nothing about the Samyang. - My current workhorse with this FOV is a Zeiss ZM 21mm f2.8 which seems more acceptable than the Voigtländer results wise.<br>

I don't shoot brickwalls from a carefully leveled tripod to evaluate distortion pixel based - I am just looking at handheld pictures I took.<br>

My best Pentax body is a 14MP k20D I got together with the 12 - 24mm. No what the K3's 24MP might reveal.</p>

<p>Why get a K3, make life easy on yourself and get a Samyang camera with a Rokinon 50mm lens and Yongnuo flash unit... </p>

<p>I would also be inclined towards the DA 15/4 limited or a designed-for-APS-C ultrawide zoom, probably the Pentax DA 12-24/4 or one of the Sigma 10-20 variants. There is a Pentax DA14/2.8 (designed for APS-C) but it's rather expensive, I'd still lean towards my earlier suggestions. I personally own the Pentax 15/4 and 12-24/4. It's a shame the well-regarded Tokina 11-16/2.8 isn't available for K-mount. Also consider that the native Pentax lenses can take advantage of in-body distortion and CA correction.<br>

<br />Another consideration is whether you think you might use any filters -- the Samyang won't accept them. The compact DA 15/4 uses 49mm filters like many other Pentax primes, the other ultra-wide choices generally take 77mm filters (as does the Sigma 17-50).</p>

<p>The DA 15 is fantastic, probably my favorite lens. But it's not cheap. <br>

If you wanted to go wider and cheaper the Rokinon 8mm/3.5 fisheye is a great value. Definitely easy to focus. It's not that big either (although quite a bit bigger than a DA 15). The same 8/3.5 lens comes under several names including Samyang so just find the one with the best price. Mine will flare but not too badly and I like the images it produces.<br>

Here's a 3 exposure composite I shot with mine last summer. <br>

<a title="IMGP5199-Edit by Matt Burt, on Flickr" href=" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5589/14594493439_e323cb89fa_z.jpg" alt="IMGP5199-Edit" width="640" height="426" /></a></p>

 

<p>If you are considering the Samyang you should check this out<br>

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/711895-REG/Vivitar_VIV13MMP_Series_1_13mm_f_2_8.html<br>

It is supposed to be the same lens according to some...</p>

Antoni, I can't say for certain that you're wrong about them being "the same" but will point out that the published specs

don't match in terms of #elements/groups, weight, minimum focus distance, or focal length.

 

This said, that Vivitar 13/2.8 IS priced very low, less than half the cost of any of the ultra-wide zooms, so I'd imagine might

be of interest to anyone considering that Samyang 14/2.8.

<p>I wonder if anybody here bought any of the last few at B&H. The Vivitar became discontinued three days after the link above was posted! I snoozed on it and on the 31mm FA Lmtd at the Pentax store site that was on sale!</p>

<p>better Optics than some Zeiss glass or 10 times less$$$ than fabled Nikkor Wide prime and almost as good IQ Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...Nope dont buy this lens...............<br /> sitting just behind the Nikon wide angle prime in I.Q.................................... and yes that 8mm viv has some of the best optics going......if you can shoot manual you might be in for a pleasant surprise <br />Aloha</p>

<p>Just received <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/698932-REG/Bower_SLY14MMF2_8P_14mm_f_2_8_Ultra_Wide.html">this</a> niece piece of glass. I have shot around 50 frames with it and enjoyed it very much. I was surprised that the box says "Fisheye" on it. It's not a fisheye according to my eyes.<br>

Oh, did I mention that it's supposed to be the same lens as the Samyang?</p>